With a score of 83.7% (1507) A Cappella Showcase took home their third gold medal at the 2019 Harmony, Inc. IC&C with the second highest chorus score ever. As expected, the chorus contest was exciting and hotly contested with runners-up Northern Blend finishing just 7 points behind A Cappella Showcase with an 83.3% (1500). It was the first time Harmony, Inc. saw not one, but two scores above an 83% in the same contest. 

Both of these scores surpass all but one of the previous winning scores in the 60 year history of the organization. The record still belongs to the Village Vocal Chords from their 2005 gold medal performance that scored 1509 points for an 83.8%.

A Cappella Showcase started off their set with a moving rendition of "On My Own" from Les Misérables, followed by a rousing rendition of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes." Both songs evoked physical and vocal reactions from the audience. Northern Blend similarly wowed the audience with near flawless presentations of "Pure Imagination" and "I Got Rhythm," complete with both vocal and actual gymnastics.

Rounding out the medalists were Sounds of the Seacoast in 3rd with a score of 78.5%, Village Vocal Chords earning with a 78.4%, and Atlanta Harmony Celebration! in 5th place with a 76.1%. The performance by Village Vocal Chords marks an emotional retirement of longtime director, Jeanne O'Connor, while Atlanta Harmony Celebration! moved up five places from 2018 and earned their first ever international medal.

Outside of the medals, there were many other individual record high scores from many of the competing choruses, with 73.4% being the cut off for the top ten - one of the highest top ten contests across the board.

In addition to the medals, Harmony, Inc. awards several additional honors, sponsored by Harmony, Inc. legends and supporting organizations:

Skidge Heath Memorial Award: Director of International Chorus Champions - Jordan Travis

Montreal City Voices Tait Trophy: Chorus Improvement Score by Ranking - Atlanta Harmony Celebration! (11th place to 5th place)

LABBS Trophy: Non-Medalist Highest Performance Score - Bella Nova

MacIntosh Award: Highest Ranking Non-Medalist Small Chorus (25 or less) - Bluegrass Harmony

Jerry Dunlop Memorial Award: Novice Director Highest Score in Chorus Contest - Kris Wheaton

G. Ruth Geils Memorial Award: Highest Scoring Chorus with the Least Number of Appearances on the Contest Stage - Lake Ridge Legacy Chorus

The focus today turns to the quartet finals - watch today at 1 pm on FloVoice!